AP® Chemistry with Ken Porush of San Jose, CaliforniaMr. Porush has taught middle and high school science courses since 1989, and AP® Chemistry for more than 23 years. He has served as a consultant to the College Board since 2002 and read AP® Chemistry exams from 2001 to 2007. He also has served as a reader for the Praxis exam. Mr. Porush earned his B.S. in psychobiology and his M.Ed. in secondary education, both from UCLA. His workshop will provide both beginning and experienced AP® Chemistry teachers with a working understanding of the curriculum and exam, including hands-on lab activities and group work sessions. His labs are typically low-cost and easy to set up and many are based on the inquiry model as promoted by the College Board. He believes that a successful AP® Chemistry course must be constructed to meet students where they are and to move them to a place where they are outstandingly prepared for a college chemistry course and many future challenges.AP® Chemistry Tentative Syllabus This workshop will provide beginning and experienced AP® Chemistry teachers with a basic understanding of the AP® Chemistry curriculum and test and assist them with organizing their course for the first time and/or making modifications to an existing framework. Participants will participate in hands-on lab activities as well as group work sessions to learn about the curriculum and its application to the AP® test, and expand problem-solving strategies for AP®-style questions. Participants will learn about the recent modifications to the AP® curriculum and test. The course will allow for discussion of the new exam format and sample test questions. Time will be provided for participants to work on reformatting traditional labs to fit the inquiry model and to discuss challenges of adapting to the new curriculum/test.Topics will include the following:

Hands-on labs and demos for classroom use.

For new teachers:

Establishing an AP®-level lab program.

Introduction to the AP® Chemistry curriculum and exam.

Planning out an AP® Chemistry calendar (and sticking to it).

Questions and answers from new and experienced teachers.

Discussion of the recent curriculum revision, and discussion of sample exam questions, released sample exam(s), and current exam(s).

Revising current labs to fit the inquiry model.

Collaboration time for new and experienced teachers.

One major topic from the AP® curriculum addressed each day, with two to four relevant labs/demos.

Sample AP® test questions and helpful hints for preparing students for the AP® Chemistry exam.